Cross rule slitting machine



Apxr 3U, 1935.- Y B. WELLS 1,999,381

CROSS .RULE SLITTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l WELLS CROSS RULE SLITTI'NG MACHINE pm w,

Filed Jly 3, 1935 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 I Patented Apr. 3G, 1935 Unire seres vriesiger A* 4 i recarsi cnoss nnte summer/racisme Bruce Weils, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 3, 1333, Serial No. 678,8?4

2 Claims.

These printing forms, as well'known, consist of a number of metal bars, or so-called rules, the edges of which form printing faces; these rules beingrassembled by slitting the saine at the points where they are to be interlocked crosswise or" each other, andthen inserting the slitted portions oi'` the rules one within the other.

In making these cross-ruleiorins it has been the practice rst to measure and mark the rules according to ,the layouifto be made, andl then to slit the rules `by suitable means; but such measuring and marking is time consuming,

frequently introduces errors, or inaccuracies, re` qulring the work to be done over again.

Y The object of my invention is to provide a ina-V chine which is operable relatively to a gauge, or a copy, so that the slits of the rules will be accurately located.V ,Y

A further feature of my invention the saw is operated between lubricant apply swabs, provided in a hood inclosing the top of the saw, so

as to keep the saw in best condition for cutting accurate slits.

`The details of construction and operation ofv my machine are hereinafter fully described withv reference to the accompanying drawings.

In thedrawings:

Fig. 1 shows aV front elevation of my machine partly in section;

Fig. 2 shows a left end elevation of my ma` chine with reference to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a transverse section taken on theV line pointed to by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a plan View ofmy machine agreeing with Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, to illustrate the function of the gauge-block in positioning the rules relatively to the cutting plane of the saw;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective sectional detail the particular means for clamping the rules place for slitting; Y

Fig. 7 shows a larger scale sectional detail of the means for advancing and retracting the gauge-block, also showing the supplementary gauge element of my machine;

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary section taken on the line pointed to by the arrow 8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 shows an elevation of the graduated face of the gauge-wheel, showing the operation of the (Ci. 91E- 15) supplementary gauging element of my machine;

Fig. 10 is an illustration of the work done by my machine; and

Fig. 1l. shows a transverse section taken on the line ii--il ci Figs. 1 and 5 illustrating the adjustability of the axis of rotation ci" the saw to compensate for wear.

machine 'consists of a table .a on which is mounted a slideway b against the iront side c of which the rules, indicated by fc, 'are placed as l0 shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. A gauge-block d is slidable in the slideway b by means of a screw e, to the front end of which a gauge-block is secured by a set screw On the screw e is rotatably mounted a gauge-wheel g; the boss of` the l5 latter being provided with a circumferential. groove in which bears a set screw h, thereby holding the gauge-wheel g rotatably in place, and hence its rotation moves the screw longitudinally.

The gauge-block d carries a pointer i. By manipulating the gauge-wheel g the gauge-block d is first retracted to permit the placing of the set` oi rules :c in irontV of the cutting plane of the saw if This operation is illustrated by Fig. 5.

. The set of rules having been properly positioned, '25 they are clamped in place. For such purpose I provide the table c with a set-screw lc, carrying an arm l, provided with spaced clamping rods m, bearing in the spaced bearing-lugs n provided on the rear wall c ofthe slideway b. The arm Z has a slot Z in which slot and the space between the bearing lugsn, the saw y' operates. The ends ci the clamping rods are moved towards and from the iront wall c of the slideway b, and in that way serve to clamp the rules :r in place. 35

The front wall c of the slideway b is also slotted as at 0 to provide a passageway for the saw i.

The saw carriage p is slidably mounted on a bracket q. The carriage carries a motor 1^, from which runs a belt s to a pulley t carried by the saw-arbor u rotating in a bearing c. Thus after the rules have been clamped in place, the saw 7' may be manually drawn forward across the rules, slitting them, and the saw is then returned to its initial position. The clamping screw ic is then turned to release the clamping rods m, and the gauge-wheel g is operated to advance the screw .e and therewith the gauge-block d to position the rules for making the next slit. The clamping screw 7c is then again operated to clamp the rules again in place, and the saw operation for making the next slit in the rules is repeated.

Since the saw :i will become worn in time, and it is necessary to slit the rules a denite suiicient depth, I provide means for lowering the saw as ation marks on the scale 2.

worn. These means consist in supporting the bearing o of the saw-arbor eccentrically, as illustra-ted in Fig. 1l. The bearing .o is rotatably supported by split yokes Si provided with set screws it. The arbor u of the saw is rotatably supported in the bearing 11 by roller bearings l i. Y The bearing o may thus be partially rotated as required to adjust the axis of rotation oi the saw relatively to the required depth of cut, and then the saw is clamped in place in the slit yokes 9.

The gauging of the rules so as to locate relatively the successive slits therein may be done by copy, or with reference to a gauge-rule. When making the slits with reference to a copy, the copy would be clamped in place on a copy holder w, by a clamping bar y, as shown in Figs. l and 5, and the pointer i of the gauge-block d' would then be placed in registration with the right end of the model sheet e, to duplicate which the crossrule printing form is to be made.

The pointer i would then be advanced by manipulation of the gauge-wheel g so as to place the same in registration with the successive vertical lines of the model sheet e, and thus cause the saw toslit the rules correspondingly.

' The operation so far described would produce the slits of the horizontal rules of the model sheet.

VFor slitting the vertical rules, the sheet lwould, of

course, be turned so as to be able to arrange the pointer i inregistratic-n with the points of intersectionY of the verticallines of the sheet.

"Where the slitting of the rules is to be done without a copy, the pointer would be operated over a gauge-rule 2 whichinay be removably secured to the base of the copy holder w. The

vgauge rulez may be provided with graduations on both its Ytop and bottom edges, thus providing Va series of gauges, graduated with reference to points or other arbitrary, convenient measurements." 7

Where accurate work is required, the operator must make sure that the pointer i of the gaugeblock 'd is place-d in accurate registration with the lines of the model sheet e, or withthe gradu- In order to check up such registration, and make sure. that it is correct, the gauge-Wheel g is provided with radial graduations 3, as o, 3, 6, etc.; and the bearing 4 of the gauge-wheel gis provided with a pointer These graduations of the gauge-wheel g may also be arranged with referenceY to points. checking the position'of the pointer 5, with reference to the graduations on the gauge-wheel g,

Thus by v with the pointer i of the gauge-block d accuracy in the location of the slits to be made in the rules is assured.

In order to assure that the saw fi will make neat slits in the rules, and thus facilitate their accurate and rm assembly as shown by Fig. 10, I deem it desirable'that the sides of the saw run between swabs holding lubricant. For Vthis purpose the saw is provided with a hood (i1-incidentally also serving as a guard to prevent inadvertent contact with the saw. The hood has a cup 'i thru which oil may be introduced, and the sides of the hood hold swabs 8 kept moistened with the oil. In that way the saw is kept in good condition, and the slits made by it are neat and clean. A guard l2 protects the operator against y inadvertent contact with the saw While drawn forward.

The details of construction above given are to be understood as merely giving one complete embodiment or my invention, but variable bythe builder ofthe machine within the scope of myinvention.

I claim: Y l

l. In a cross rule slitting machine comprising, a table provided with a slideway adaptedto hold rules longitudinally movable, means for clamp-` ing the rules in place in said slideway, such means comprising a transverse screw journaled inthe table, said screw carrying a vertical arm, spaced clamping rods carried by said arm, sliding in bearings provided on said slideway, said arm vand said bearings being slotted to permit the passage of the saw, a driven slitting saw movable across said slideway, lsaid arm and said slideway being adapted to receive the saw.

V2. A cross rule slitting machiney comprising'a table provided with a 'slideway adapted `to hold rules longitudinally movable; means for clamping the rules in place in said slideway, such means comprising a transverse screw journaled in` they table, a vertical arm carried by said screw and', 

